Electrical surge apparatus for compacting and forming dynamoelectric machine coils

ABSTRACT

ELECTRICAL SURGE APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING DYNAMOELECTRIC MACHINE COILS IN THE SLOTS OF AN INTERNALLY SLOTTED STATOR CORE MEMBER AND FOR FORMING THE END TURN PORTIONS OF THE COILS OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM THE BORE OF THE CORE MEMBER, WHICH INCLUDES A MECHANISM FOR SUPPORTING TTHE CUFF PORTIONS OF SLOT INSULATORS WHICH PROJECT BEYOND THE SLOTS OF THE CORE MEMBER SO AS TO INHIBIT THE DEFLECTION AND DAMAGE TO THE CUFF PORTIONS DURING THE APPLICATION OF AN ELECTRICAL SURGE TO THE COILS. A MEMBER WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH THE BORE OF THE CORE MEMBER CARRIES CONTACTS FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO THE ELECTRICAL LEADS OF THE COILS FOR APPLYING THE ELECTRICAL SURGE THERETO.

United States Patent lnvcntor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee ELECTRICAL SURGE APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING AND FORMING DYNAMOELECTRIC MACHINE COILS 21 Claims, l0 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 29/205E, 29/205D, 29/596, 93/lR, 310/215 Int. Cl [102k 15/00 Field of Search 29/205 (I) (E), 205, 205 (D), 596; 242/l.l; 310/215; 93/1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,333,335 8/1967 Sims 29/596X Essex International. lnc.. Fort Wayne, Ind.

Primary Examiner-John F. Campbell Assistant Examiner-Carl E. Hall Att0rneyH00d, Gust, Irish and Lundy ABSTRACT: Electrical surge apparatus for compacting dynamoelectric machine coils in the slots of an internally slotted stator core member and for forming the end turn portions of the coils outwardly away from the bore of the core member, which includes a mechanism for supporting the cuff portions of slot insulators which project beyond the slots of the core member so as to inhibit the deflection and damage to the cuff portions during the application of an electrical surge to the coils. A member which extends through the bore of the core member carries contacts for making electrical connections to the electrical leads of the coils for applying the electrical surge thereto.

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ELECTRICAL SURGE APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING AND FORMING DYNAMOELECTRIC MACHINE COILS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to apparatus of the electrical surge type for compacting and forming dynamoelectric machine coils.

.2. Description of the Prior Art U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,333,327, 3,333,330 and 3,333,335 disclose various methods for compacting dynamoelectric machine coils in the slots of an internally slotted stator core member and for forming the end turn portions of the coils outwardly away from the bore of the core member by the application of high voltage electrical surges to the coils, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,468 discloses apparatus which may be employed for performing such methods.

Certain dynamoelectric machine stator assemblies include slot liners or insulators which insulate the coils in the slots of the core member form the exposed edges of the laminations, such slot insulators frequently having cuff portions which project outwardly from the opposite ends of the respective slots beyond the opposite end faces of the stator core member. The sudden application of a high voltage pulse to the coils positioned in the core member slots results in nearly instantaneous outward deflection of the end turns of the coils which project outwardly beyond the opposite end faces of the core member and it has been found that the high forces exerted by the end turns on the slot insulator cuff portions during the application of such a pulse frequently results in fracturing of the cuff portions. It is therefore desirable to incorporate in apparatus of the general type disclosed in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,468, a mechanism for supporting the cuff portions of the slot insulators during the application of an electrical surge to the coils thereby. to inhibit deflection and damage to the cuff portions.

Further, in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,407 468, stator core members with the coils initially positioned therein are supported on a turntable which thus transfers the cores between a loading and unloading station, and an electrical surge applying station. In that apparatus, electrical contacts, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,379, are mounted on the turn table radially outwardly from the core member supports for making the connections to the coil leads for applying the electrical surge thereto. This location for the contacts necessitates the provision of coil leads which may be longer than otherwise be required, and further, the leads may interfere with the cuff support mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its broader aspects, the invention provides means for supporting a stator core member, with the coils positioned in the slots thereof, at an electrical surge applying station, and a cuff support mechanism for supporting the cuff portions of slot insulators which project beyond the slots of the core member thereby to inhibit deflection and damage to the cuff portions during the application of an electrical surge to the coils. The mechanism includes means for restraining the deflection of at least one of the cuff portions and portions, for selectively moving the engaging means between a first cuff portion engaging position at the surge station, and a second position spaced from the surge station.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a member is provided which extends through the bore of the core member when supported on the support means at the surge station, and contact means are carried by the member for selectively engaging the electrical leads of the coils thereby to apply the electrical surge thereto.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide improved electrical surge apparatus for compacting and forming dynamoelectric machine coils.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved electrical surge apparatus for compacting and forming dynamoelectric machine coils including means for supporting the cuff portions of slot insulators during application of an electrical surge thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved electrical surge apparatus for compacting and forming dynamoelectric machine coils wherein the contacts for applying the electrical surge to the coils leads are located to permit the use of shorter leads than heretofore has been possible and so that leads do not interfere with a cuff supporting mechanism.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, showing the improved electrical surge apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross section, taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. I an illustrating the lower cuff supporting mechanism in its indicative position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, but illustrating the lower cuff supporting mechanism in its active position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the upper cuff supporting mechanism in its active position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the contact mechanism of the invention with the contacts in their closed position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to F IG. 6 but illustrating the contacts in their open position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the upper DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the FIGS. of the drawings, the improved electrical surge apparatus of the invention, generally indicated at 12, includes a base frame 14 adapted to be supported on a supporting surface (not shown) and having a top plate member 16. An upper frame assembly 18 is provided including a side plate member 20 supported in the base frame 14 and extending upwardly therefrom, and a top plate member 22.

A turntable assembly 24 is provided including a plate member 26 mounted on a shaft 28 which is rotatably supported by a suitable bearing assembly 30 mounted on and extending upwardly from top plate 16. Shaft 28 extends downwardly from top plate 16 and has a suitable indexing gear 32 thereon adapted to be selectively driven by a suitable indexing drive assembly (not shown) for rotating turntable assembly 24. In the illustrated embodiment, turntable assembly 24 is adapted to support two stator core assemblies 34a and 34b thereon for rotational transfer between a loading and unloading station 36, and an electrical surge applying station 38. An insulating partition 40 extends diametrically across turntable plate 26 and upwardly therefrom so as to isolate the surge station 38 from the loading and unloading station 36.

Turntable plate member 26 has diametrically opposite openings 42a and 42b formed therein on opposite sides of partition 4i) for receiving stator core assemblies 34a and 34b. A

in FIGS. 4 and 6. Stator core members 56 of assemblies 340 and 34b have conventional coils 62 positioned in their internal winding slots 64 with end turn portions 66 and 68 respectively extending beyond the slots 64 and beyond the opposite end faces 58, 70. As is well known, the end turns 66, 68 of coil 62 when initially positioned in slots 64 of stator core member 56, as by means of conventional gun-type winding apparatus or coil injection apparatus, initially extend generally axially outwardly from the opposite end faces, generally parallel with the axis 72 of the bore 74 of core member 56, as shown on stator core assembly 34a in FIGS. 1 and 4. Slots 64 of the stator core member 56 have conventional slot liners 76 therein which accommodate coils 62 and insulate the coils from the edges of the laminations forming core members 56, slot insulator 76 having cuff portions 78 and 80 which respectively extend outwardly beyond the respective slot opening and beyond the opposite end faces 58 and 70 of core member 56.

When a high voltage electrical surge is applied to coils 62 in slot 64 of stator core member 56, as taught by the aforesaid patents, the wires forming the portions of the coils respectively positioned in the slots 64 are virtually instantaneously forced radially outwardly in the slots thereby compacting the coils-in the slots, and the end turn portions 66 and 68 are likewise virtually instantaneously forced outwardly away from the bore of the stator core member, as shown at 66b and 68b on stator core assembly 3412 in FIG. 1. The slot insulators 76 and cuff portions 78 and 80 thereof are conventionally formed of suitable relatively thin sheet insulating material, such as nylon or mylar, and it will be observed that cuff portions 78 and 80 project substantially beyond the opposite end faces 58 and 70 of stator core member 56. Thus, when an electrical surge is applied to coils 62 resulting in virtually instantaneous outward deflection of end turns 66 and 68 from their initial to their formed positions, very substantial forces are applied to the cuff portions 78 and 80 which tend to deflect and fracture the cuff portions.

As will hereinafter by more fully described, cylindrical center members 82a and 82b are provided respectively mounted on the bottom plate members 44a and 44b and extending coaxially upwardly through the bores 74 of stator core members 56. As further described in the aforesaid patents, portions 84 of the center members 82a and 82b which extend through the'bores 74 include a cylindrical conductive, nonmagnetic sleeve 86 in which eddy currents are generated in response to the application of an electrical surge to the coils 62, thereby contributing to the coil compaction and forming operation,

In order to support the cuff portions 78, 80 during the application of an electrical surge to the coils 62, thereby to inhibit deflection and damage to the cuff portions, lower and upper cuff support assemblies 88 and 90 are provided respectively mounted on top plate 16 of base frame 14 and top plate 22 of upper frame assembly 18. The lower and upper cuff support assemblies 88 and 90 are substantially identical in construction and mode of operation and common reference numerals will therefore be employed in the description thereof.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower cuff support assembly 88 is illustrated adapted for supporting the lower cuff portions 78 of a stator core assembly having a two pole winding therein. It will be readily understood that by virtue of the large span of the larger coils in a two-pole motor, the problem of tough fracture, while not confined to two-pole motors, is greater in the case of two-pole windings. Each of the lower and upper cuff support assemblies 88 and 90 comprises a pair of identical cuff support mechanisms 92 and 94, only the mechanism 92 being shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The cuff support mechanisms 92 and 94 of the lower cuff support assembly 88 are mounted upon a mounting plate 96. Mounting plate 96 is selectively raised and lowered between its lower, inactive position, as shown in FIG. 1, and its upper active position, as shown in FIG. 4, by a suitable fluid power cylinder 98 mounted on and depending from top plate 16 of base frame 14, piston rod 100 of fluid power cylinder 98 extending upwardly through top plate 16 and being connected to mounting plate 96. Guide rods 102 extend downwardly from mounting plate 96 through suitable bearings 104 in top plate 16 and serve to stabilize and guide the vertical movement of mounting plate 96 and the lower cuff support assembly 88 in the direction shown by the arrows 106.

A pair of cuff support members 108, are provided respectively having recesses 112 formed in their edge 114 which define finger portions 116 therebetween. Inspection of FIG. 5, will indicate that when the cuff support members 108, 110 are in their cuff-supporting positions, finger portions 116 and recesses 112 cooperate to engage and partially embrace respective cuff portions 78, 80, thereby inhibiting deflection and breakage of the cuff portions when the end turns 66, 68 are suddenly forced outwardly in response to the application of an electrical surge to the coils 62.

Cuff support members 108, 110, which are preferably formed of sheet material having a thickness generally corresponding to the height of the respective cuff portion, are respectively secured to the outer ends of lever members 118, 120, which have their inner ends pivotally connected to mounting plate 96 by a pivot post 122. Lever members 118, 120 respectively have actuating portions 124, 126 which are connected to toggle links 128, 130 which are operatively connected to clevis 132. Clevis 132 is connected to piston rod 134 of fluid power cylinder 136 mounted on mounting plate 96. It will be readily seen that protractile movement of piston rod 134 will actuate toggle links 128, 130 and arms 118, 120 so as to pivot support members 108, 110 about pivot post 122 in the direction shown by the arrows 140, from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 5 in which support members 108, 110 engage and partially embrace cuff portions 78, 80. Reference to FIG. 5 will show that movement of piston rod 134 in direction 138, and thus the pivotal movement of support members 108, 110 in direction 140, is limited by abutment of the toggle links 128, 130 with portions 124, 126 of lever members 118, 120, thus establishing the cuff portion engaging position of support member 108, 110.

The upper cuff support assembly 90 comprises two cuff support mechanisms 92, 94 identical to those comprising the lower cuff support assembly 88, cuff support mechanisms 92 and 94 of upper cuff support assembly 90 being mounted on upper mounting plate 142. Mounting plate 142 is supported by suitable guide rods 144 journaled in suitable bearings 146 in intermediate support plate 148. The upper ends of guide rods 144 are connected by plate member 150 to which piston rod 152 of fluid power cylinder 154 is connected, fluid power cylinder 154 being mounted on top plate member 22 of the upper frame assembly 18. Thus, fluid power cylinder 154 moves the upper cuff support assembly 90 vertically in the direction shown by the arrows 156 between its upper inactive position, as shown in FIG. 1, and its lower, active position as shown in FIG. 5 and in dashed lines in FIG. 4.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 4, it will be seen that with the mounting plates 96 and 142 of the lower and upper cuff support assemblies 88, 90 respectively raised and lowered to their active positions, and with the fluid power cylinders 136 respectively actuated to extend piston rods 134, cuff support members 108, 110 of cuff support mechanisms 92, 94 will respectively engage and embrace cuff portions 78 and 80 respectively extending beyond the lower and upper opposite end faces 58, 70 of stator core member 56. It will be readily understood that only the cuff support mechanism 92 of the lower cuff support assembly 88 is shown in solid lines in FIG. 4, the other identical cuff support mechanism 94 of the lower cuff support assembly 88 and cuff support mechanisms 92 and 94 of the upper cuff support assembly 90 and upper mounting plate 148 being shown in dashed lines. It will be readily understood further that a center Opening 158 is provided in the upper mounting plate 142 through which the upper end of the center member 82 extends when the upper cuff support assembly 90 is in its lower active position.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 6 through 10 of the drawings, each of the center members 82 comprises an inner cylindrical portion 160 formed of suitable insulating material, an outer sleeve member 86 formed of suitable nonmagnetic conductive material, such as copper, and an upper removable, hollow cap member 162, also formed of suitable insulating material. Cap member 162 and cylindrical portion 160 mutually define a cavity l64 which is transversely, vertically divided into two opposite cavity sections 164a and 16417 by partition members 166 and 168, also formed of suitable insulating material. Cap member 162 is removably held in assembled relation by means of a suitable threaded fastener 170 which extends downwardly through cap member 162, and partition members 166, and 168, and is threaded into a suitable opening in cylindrical portion 160. Diametrically opposite openings or windows 1720 and 172b are respectively formed in the upper and lower edges of sleeve member 86 and cap member 162 with insulating inserts 174a and 174b positioned therein. Tapered openings 176a, 176b are respectively formed in inserts 174a, 174b respectively communicating with cavities 164a, '164b for inserting coil leads 178 therein (FIG. 1).

Contact assemblies 180a and 180b are respectively positioned in the cavity sections 1640, 164b and are respectively exposed to the lead-receiving openings 176a, 1761). Each of the contact assemblies 180 comprises a fixed contact element 182 carried by a fixed mounting member 184, member 184 in turn being mounted at the upper end of a conductor 186 which extends downwardly through an opening 188 in cylindrical portion 160, the lower end 190 of conductor 186 terminating below the bottom surface 192 of platform 44. A cooperating moveable contact element 194 is provided carried by a contact mounting member 196. Member 196 is, in turn, mounted on the upper end of an actuating rod 198 which extends downwardly through a suitable opening 200 formed in cylindrical member 160. Opening 200 has an enlarged portion 202 which extends clownwardly through the lower end of cylindrical portion 160 and through platform 44. Actuating rod 198 has an enlarged portion 204 formed at its lower end which is exposed to the bottom surface 192 of platform 44. A suitable coil spring 206 extends between the upper end of actuating portion 204 of push rod 198 and the upper end of enlarged opening portion 202 and serves resiliently to urge actuating portion 204, actuating rod 198, contact mounting member 196 and moveable contact 194 downwardly so as to close the fixed and moveable contacts 182, 194 to engage a coil lead 178. A conductive continuity strip 208 connects the upper ends of contact mounting members 184, 196.

A pair of fluid power cylinders 210a, 210k are provided mounted on top plate member 16 of base frame 14 and respectively in alignment with the enlarged portions 2040, 204b of actuating rods 198 when the respective central member 82 is positioned at the loading and unloading station 36, i.e., the contact assembly actuating fluid power cylinders 210a, 2l0b are located at the loading and unloading station. It will now be readily seen that selective actuation of both of the fluid power cylinders 2100, 21017 when a respective central member 82 is positioned at the loading and unloading station will cause piston rods 212a, 212b to extend upwardly to engage enlarged portions 204a, 204!) of actuating rods 198 thereby to move the moveable contact mounting member 196 and moveable contact elements 194 of contact assemblies 180a, l80b upwardly in the direction shown at 214 thereby to open the contact assemblies to permit removal of coil leads I78 and insertion of new coil leads, as shown in H0. 7. Subsequent deactuation of fluid power cylinders 210a, 210b with the consequent retraction of their piston rods 212a, 2l2b will result in downward movement of enlarged portions 204a, 204b of actuating rods 198 and of moveable contact mounting members 196 and moveable contact elements 194 under the influence of springs 206 thereby to close the contacts 180a, 180b.

Each of the platforms 44a, 44b has an extension portion 216 which extends outwardly beyond lower mounting plate 96 when the respective platform 44 is at the surge station 38 (FIG. 3). Lower mounting plate 96 has a complementary insulating extension portion 218 extending outwardly therefrom in vertical alignment with the respective extension portion 216 of the insulating platform 44. Lower ends 190 of the support rods 186 for the fixed contact mounting members 184 of fixed contact elements 182 are respectively connected by conductors 220 to conventional knife blade contact elements 222 mounted on the bottom surface 192 of extension portion 216. Complementary knife blade contact elements 224 are mounted on insulating portion 21.8 of lower mounting plate 96 and are adapted to be connected by a suitable flexible lead 226 to the source of electrical surge energy (not shown).

OPERATION With turntable 24 in a first position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thus positioning an uncompacted stator core assembly 34a at the surge station 38 and a compacted and formed stator core assembly 34b at the loading and unloading station, 36, with leads 178a, 178k of coils 62 respectively inserted in the openings 176a, 176b of central members 82a, 82b and respectively engaged by the contact assemblies 180a, 180b, and with the lower and upper cuff support assemblies 88, 90 respectively in their lower and upper inactive positions (FIG. 1) with the cuff support mechanisms 92, 94 in their open positions (FIG. 3), fluid power cylinders 210a, 210b are actuated to open contact assemblies 180a, 18% of central member 82b thus to release coil leads 178a, 178b of the compacted and formed stator core assembly 3411, and that assembly is then removed from central member 82b. Another uncompacted stator core assembly 34 is then positioned over central member 82b at the loading and unloading station 36 to be supported on supports 52, 54. Fluid power assemblies 98, 154 are then actuated respectively to raise and lower the lower and upper cuff support of core assemblies 88, 90 to their active positions, and fluid power cylinders 136 are actuated to close the cuff support mechanism 92, 94 to engage and embrace cuff portions 78, (FIGS. 4 and 5). Raising of the lower mounting plate 96 to its upper position closes contacts 222, 224 (FIG. 1) thereby electrically to connect the electrical surge supply leads 226 to contact assemblies 180a, 18% of central member 82a, and in turn to leads 178a, 178b and to the uncompacted, unformed coils 62 of stator core assembly 34a. The electrical surge apparatus, which may be of the type described and illustrated in the aforesaid US. Pat. No. 3,407,468, is then actuated to apply the high voltage electrical surge to the coils 62 of stator core assembly 34a, those coils then being compacted in slots 64 and their end turn portions 66, 68 formed outwardly, as above described, the engaging embrace of cuff support members 108, 110 with cuff portions 78, 80 supporting the cuff portions during the application of the electrical surge and preventing deflection and damage thereto. in this connection, a feeler rod 228 mounted on the upper cuff portion assembly and projecting downwardly therefrom initially engages the upper end face 70 of stator core member 56 as the upper cuff support assembly 90 moves downwardly in direction 156, feeler 228 actuating a limit switch 230 which is, in turn, coupled by a suitable solenoid valve (not shown) to fluid power cylinder 154 so as to slow down the speed of downward movement. Another limit switch (not shown) deactuates fluid power cylinder 154 to terminate the downward movement of the upper cuff support assembly 90 when the cuff support members 108, thereof have reached the proper position in alignment with upper cuff portion 80. It will be understood that this arrangement is necessary since different stator core assemblies 34 may have different stack heights.

Upon termination of the application of the electrical surge, fluid power cylinders 136 are actuated to open the cuff support mechanisms 92, 94, cylinders 98, 154 are actuated respectively to lower and raise the lower and upper cuff support assemblies 88, 90 to their lower and upper, inactive positions, thereby opening contacts 222, 224, and the indexing drive for turntable assembly 24 (not shown) is actuated thereby to index the turntable by 180 to transfer the compacted and formed stator core assembly 34, from the surge station 38 to the loading and unloading station 36, and at the same time to transfer the new uncompacted stator core assembly 34 on central member 82b to the surge station. Fluid power cylinders 210a, 210b are then again actuated to open contact assemblies 180a, 1801; thereby release coil leads 178a, 178b of coil 62 of the compacted and formed stator core assembly 340, so as to permit its removal from central member 82a.

It will now be observed that in accordance with the invention, the cuff supporting apparatus is located only at the surge applying station 38, i.e. it is unnecessary to provide cuff supporting apparatus at each of the positions on turntable assembly 24 where a stator core assembly may be located. lt will further be observed that by mounting the contact assemblies 180 within the central members 82, not only is the use of relatively shorter coil leads 178 permitted, but further that the coil leads 178 are positively held out of the path of movement of cuff support members 108, 110 of the upper cuff support assembly 90 so that there is no interference between the cuff support mechanism and the coil leads.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a turntable assembly 24 accommodating only two stator core assemblies 34 and their having only two rotational positions, i.e.- loading and unloading station 36 and surge station 38, it will be readily apparent that four or more stator core assemblies may be carried by the turntable as sembly 24 which would then have two or more inactive positions or stations, as illustrated and described in the aforesaid US. Pat. No. 3,407,468. Still further, while the cuff support apparatus has been illustrated and described in conjunction with stator core assemblies having a two-pole winding, it will be readily apparent that it is equally applicable to stator core assemblies having a greater number of poles, such as four.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. ln electrical surge apparatus for compacting dynamoelectric machine coils in the slots of an internally slotted stator core member and for forming the end turn portions of said coils outwardly away from the bore of said core member: means for supporting a stator core member, with coils positioned in the slots thereof, at a surge station with the bore of the core member disposed on an axis, and a cuff support mechanism for supporting the cuff portions of slot insulators which project beyond the slots of said core member thereby to inhibit deflection and damage to said cuff portions during the application of an electrical surge to said coils, said mechanism including means for engaging and restraining deflection of at least one of said cuff portions, and means for selectively moving said engaging means between a first position in which a said cuff portion of an insulator in a core member at said surge station is engaged, and a second position spaced form said core member at said surge station.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said engaging means includes means for partially embracing said one cuff portion in said first portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said engaging means in said first position thereof engages a plurality of adjacent cuff portions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one cuff portion is disposed on one end face of said core member, the respective slot insulator having a second cuff portion disposed on the opposite end face of said core member, said engaging means in said first position thereof engaging both of said cuff portions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for transferring said supporting means, in a plane normal to said axis, between said surge station and a second station spaced from said surge station, and wherein said second position of said engaging means is spaced from said plane.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a member coaxial with said axis and which extends through the bore of said core member when on said support means, and contact means carried by said member for selectively engaging leads of said coils thereby to apply the electrical surge thereto.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one cuff portion is disposed on one end face of said core member, the respective slot insulator having a second cuff portion disposed on the opposite end face of said core member, said mechanism further including second means for engaging and restraining deflection of at least said second cuff portion, and second means for selectively moving said second engaging means between a first cuff portion engaging position at said surge station, and a second position spaced from said surge station.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for transferring said supporting means, in a plane normal to said axis, between said surge station and a second station spaced from said surge station, and wherein said second positions of said first-named and second engaging means are respectively spaced from said plane on opposite sides thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said engaging means includes at least one cuff support member having a plurality of recesses formed in an edge thereof respectively defining fingers therebetween, said recesses and fingers respectively conforming to the configuration of a corresponding plurality of adjacent cuff portions, said recesses and fingers respectively partially embracing said-adjacent cuff portions in said first position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said moving means includes means for mounting said support members of pivotal movement in a plane normal to said axis between said first portion and an intermediate portion at said surge station and spaced from said core member and means for transferring said mounting means and said support member between said intermediate position and said second position of said support member, said second position being spaced from said plane.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein there are two of said support members, said mounting means pivotally moving both of said support members between said first and intermediate positions thereof about a common pivot point.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said mounting means includes first and second lever members respectively carrying said support members, a common pivot for said lever members, first and second toggle links respectively operatively coupled to said lever members, and linear-acting power actuator means operatively coupled to said links for linearly moving the same between first and second positions thereby pivotally to move said lever members and support members in first and second directions between said first and intermediate positions thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said links and lever members are proportioned and arranged to prevent pivotal movement of said lever members and support members in said first direction beyond said first position thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said transferring means includes a mounting member having said pivot and actuator means mounted thereon, and second linear-acting power actuator means operatively coupled to said mounting member for linearly moving the same parallel with said axis thereby to move said lever members and support members between said intermediate and second positions thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 including a frame, a turntable carrying said supporting means and mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis spaced from and parallel with said firstnamed axis thereby to transfer said supporting means between said surge station and a second station angularly displaced from said surge station, said second actuator means being mounted on said frame and moving said mounting member a predetermined distance to said second position so that said support member in said second position thereof clears the rotational path of movement of said core member and the coils therein as said turntable rotates said supporting means between said positions thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 including a frame, generally horizontally disposed turntable carrying said supporting means and mounted on said frame for rotation about a generally vertical axis spaced from and parallel with said firstnamed axis thereby to transfer said supporting means between said surge station and a second station angularly displaced from said surge station, said turntable having an opening therein, said supporting means supporting said core member in said opening with the cuff portions and opposite end faces thereof respectively disposed above and below said turntable. said engaging means comprising first and second support members respectively engaging, in their first positions, a plurality of corresponding cuff portions on opposite end faces of said core member, said moving means comprising first actuator means mounted on said frame above said turntable for moving said first support member between said first and second positions thereof, said second position of said first support member being spaced above said turntable, and second actuator means mounted on said frame below said turntable for moving said second support member between said first and second positions thereof, said second position of said second support member being spaced below said turntable.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first and second actuator means each include means for moving the respective support members generally horizontally between the first position thereof and an intermediate position spaced from said core member and means for moving the respective support member generally vertically between the intermediate and second positions thereof.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said supporting means includes a platform mounted on said turntable and spaced below said opening, and further including a center member coaxial with said axis mounted on said platform and extending upwardly through said turntable opening, said center member extending through the bore of said core member when on said support means, and contact means carried by said member for selectively engaging leads of said coils thereby to apply the electrical surge thereto.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said center member has a cavity formed therein and at least one opening therein above said core member and communicating with said cavity for receiving a said coil lead, said contact means comprising a fixed contact exposed to said center member opening thereby to receive and engage said coil lead, means extending downwardly through said center member and through said platform for actuating said moveable contact between open and closed positions with said fixed contact and spring means acting upon said actuating means for normally urging said movable contact to its closed position.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said actuating means has a lower end and upward movement of said actuating means opens said contacts, said spring means urging said actuating means downwardly, and further including linear-acting power actuator means mounted on said frame below said platform at said second station for engaging said lower end of said actuating means and moving the same upwardly thereby to open said contacts.

2!. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said center member has a sidewall, there being two of said openings formed in said sidewall, said sidewall openings being substantially diametrically opposite, a partition vertically dividing said cavity into two sections which respectively communicate with said sidewall openings, said fixed and movable contacts being disposed in one of said sections and exposed to one of said sidewall openings, said contact means further including a second fixed contact and a cooperating second movable contact in the other of said sections and exposed to the other of said sidewall openings, second means extending downwardly through said center member and through said platform for actuating said second movable contact between open and closed positions, and second spring means acting upon said actuating means for normally urging said second movable contact to its closed position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No- 3,587,161 Dated June 28, 1971 Inventoflp) Robert J. Eminqer #15 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE SPECIFICATICN Column 1, line 20, change "form to ---;Erom--; Column 1, line 58, change "portions, to --means-; Column 2, line 23, change "an" to --and---; Column 2, line 24, change "indicative" to ---inactiv Column 2, line 53, change "in" to --on---; Column 4, line 30, change "to" to ---by---; Column 7, line 14, after "thereby" insert ---to---;

IN TE-IE CLA IMS Cla im 1, Column 7 line 65, change "form" to ---from--.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of April 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestlng Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PO-1050 [10-69) uscowwoc 603704,, u.s sovzmmim Hum-ma ornc: 1 Ian o-au-ssa 

